Le Planay

Beaufortain is a region east of Albertville, essentially encompassing the valley of the Doron River and the mountains rising on either side. The main town is Beaufort. Whoever controlled Beaufort held the valley, which is why it was constantly contested. Its fortified castle still stands as a testament to those tumultuous times.

Today, instead of marauding knights, harmless skiers descend upon Beaufortain. They travel from Beaufort to Arêches and take one of the chairlifts in this small yet charming ski resort.

Arêches is the destination of a gentle but scenically enchanting gravel tour that begins in Beaufort. About half the route consists of a winding asphalt road and a broad, lightly gravelled track.
The first seven kilometers climb steeply from Beaufort, navigating sharp hairpin bends towards the rugged peaks of Mont Mirantin (2.463 m). A paradise for motorcyclists. Between the trees, frequent lookout points offer stunning views of the valley below. Midway, the track gradually descends, heading toward the Alpine village of le Planay (1.150 m), the main settlement of the four-village commune of le Planay. After a brief stop, the route continues downhill on asphalt until the road sign for the ski resort of Arêches comes into view.